This is the second album from New Zealand solo blackened heavy metal band Miasmata.
Subterrania brings us 39 minutes of material from the artist behind Miasmata. The style is a mix of black, speed, thrash, and heavy metal, and these six songs exemplify how to combine these elements into something cohesive and entertaining. Continue reading “Miasmata – Subterrania (Review)”
This is the fourth album from US black/speed metal band Bewitcher.
I was taken with Bewitcher’s style of black/speed/thrash metal ever since I first heard 2016’s Bewitcher. After this, the band unleashed a worthy follow up in 2019’s Under the Witching Cross, as well as 2021’s Cursed Be Thy Kingdom, which I missed out on. All of which brings us to Spell Shock, the band’s longest album yet at 40 minutes, (44 if you include the bonus track). Continue reading “Bewitcher – Spell Shock (Review)”
This is the third album from Nails, a grindcore band from the US.
There are a fair few albums being released in 2024 that are hotly anticipated, including some from bands that haven’t released anything for a while. For me, near the top of that list is Every Bridge Burning by Nails. 2016’s You Will Never Be One of Us was a grindcore/powerviolence/hardcore monster, so this new record has a lot to live up to. Continue reading “Nails – Every Bridge Burning (Review)”
This is the third album from Swedish black metal solo act Kvaen.
The name Kvaen hit the black metal underground hard with 2020’s The Funeral Pyre, and then followed this up in 2022 with The Great Below, which showed that the quality of the debut was no fluke. Another two years have passed, and now we have The Formless Fires. Do the 39 minutes of new music here still demonstrate a continuation of these quality levels? Continue reading “Kvaen – The Formless Fires (Review)”
This is the third album from UK black metal band Inconcessus Lux Lucis.
Inconcessus Lux Lucis made a good impression on me with 2017’s The Crowning Quietus, and this was reinforced on 2021’s SamaeLilith: A Conjunction of the Fireborn split with Thy Darkened Shade, Amestigon, & Shaarimoth. The band have now returned with Temples Colliding in Fire, which delivers 44 minutes of new material. Continue reading “Inconcessus Lux Lucis – Temples Colliding in Fire (Review)”
This is the second album from US blackened heavy metal band Morgul Blade.
Now there’s an album cover for you. When combined with the title, it that speaks loudly of what you’ll encounter on Heavy Metal Wraiths. Across 36 minutes Morgul Blade deliver a rip-roaring trip through ten boisterous tracks that are designed to get those heads banging and fists pumping. Continue reading “Morgul Blade – Heavy Metal Wraiths (Review)”
This is the sixth album from blackened speed metal solo act Midnight.
Containing 26 minutes of filthy raging mayhem, Hellish Expectations is a furious record of blackened speed/thrash metal that’s hard to dislike. It’s charismatic and nasty, which is a great combination for this sort of thing. Continue reading “Midnight – Hellish Expectations (Review)”
This is the second album from Serbian thrash metal band Jenner.
Prove Them Wrong contains 45 minutes of classic thrashing metal the likes of which you don’t commonly encounter in 2023. It’s very endearing and top fun – Jenner know how to play this sort of thing that’s for sure. Continue reading “Jenner – Prove Them Wrong (Review)”
This is the sixth album from Swedish heavy/speed metallers Enforcer.
After 2019’s enjoyable Zenith, Enforcer are now back with the 42-minute Nostalgia, which is very aptly named for such an old-school metal record. Continue reading “Enforcer – Nostalgia (Review)”
This is the second album from Canadian/Finnish heavy metallers Smoulder.
Featuring seven tracks running 42 minutes in length, Violent Creed of Vengeance is a thoroughly enjoyable slab of epic heavy metal. Break out the swords and get ready for adventure! Continue reading “Smoulder – Violent Creed of Vengeance (Review)”
Wonderbox Metal 